Supporting the Red Door Family Shelter

“The Gingerbread Build for the City” competition is KPMB’s annual fundraising initiative in support of the Red Door Family Shelter. We invite AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) firms across the Greater Toronto Area to compete, donate, and join us in making a difference. The Red Door Family Shelter provides emergency shelter and support for women and children affected by domestic abuse, families experiencing a housing crisis, and refugee claimants with nowhere else to turn. They also offer counselling, life skills training, legal assistance, and ongoing support to help establish a stable life beyond the shelter.

In 2025, we raised over $3,800 to support Red Door Family Shelter and the essential services they provide. A heartfelt thank you to all of our supporters, partners, and collaborators who helped make last year’s Gingerbread Build for the City such a success. This year, we’re aiming even higher with a goal to raise $6,000!

With your support, we can help make a meaningful difference for families who need it most. Let’s build something incredible together!

Thank you to Give & Go for their generous donation and supply of the Gingerbread Kits.

2026: Lights, Camera, Gingerbread!

Call for Submission

For this year’s Gingerbread Build for the City, we will be looking at holiday films or films that are associated with the holidays. Teams will design and build gingerbread structures inspired by holiday films, characters, sets and landscape.

Key details

Team sizes: Teams should be composed of 3 to 5 people. Participating firms can register multiple teams.
Registration: Registration can be done by filling out this form or by emailing the Event Committee.
Donation: Participations of each team requires a $200 donation to the Red Door Family Shelter. Donations should be made here.
Material: Pre-baked gingerbread panels, royal icing, fondant, food colouring, and glitter are included in your delivery package (please note that these should not be consumed).
Team can supply their own specialty candies for customization. Props and adhesive aids, including hot glue, are allowed but should be kept to a minimum.
Submission: Participating teams are required to supply a film poster, four photos, a title, and a description (200 characters max) of their builds. All submission materials should be emailed to our Event Committee by 4pm on December 3rd.

Submission Criteria

On December 3, we will gather all structures at KPMB to celebrate your efforts – and for judging!

Structures shall be structurally inventive and architecturally imaginative. This year’s judging categories are: (1) Most Iconic Design, (2) Best Structural Integrity, (3) Best Film Experience, and (4) People’s Choice.

Deliverables

We are excited to see your creative gingerbreads! To help showcase your creations, please submit the following:
Title – Give your gingerbread creation a fun and creative title!
Description – Share a little about the movie, film scene, or set that inspired your gingerbread creation. Tell us what makes it special!
Film Poster – Submit a poster representing the film your gingerbread creation is based on. You can use the original movie poster or get creative and design your own! Posters should be in letter size (8.5″ x 11″).
Four Photos – Submit four photos of your finished masterpiece! Have fun with different camera angles and perspectives so we can capture all the creative details. These photos will be featured on our website for online voting.

Key dates

November 5– Registration Deadline
Registration can be done by filling out this form or by emailing the Event Committee.

November 23 – Gingerbread Kit Delivery
Pre-baked gingerbread panels, royal icing, fondant, food colouring, and edible glitter will be delivered to all participating teams.

December 3 – Build Deadline & Gingerbread Social
·2 PM – Submit all required materials (film poster, four photos, a title, and a description) to Event Committee.
·3 PM – Deliver your physical model to KPMB (351 King St E Suite 1200)
·5-7 PM – Join us for an in-person celebration at KPMB (351 King St E Suite 1200)

December 3-10 – Online Voting
Online public voting at gingerbread.kpmb.com will determine the People’s Choice Award

Register for Gingerbread Build for the City

Have questions about this year’s competition? Contact the Event Committee.